Radio-access-technology-specific access restrictions

ABSTRACT

Various communication systems may benefit from appropriate restriction on use. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from radio-access-technology-specific access restrictions. A method can include registering a user equipment with a network element. The registering can include identifying user equipment capabilities. The method can also include receiving a response from the network element indicating restriction on use of at least one radio access technology.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims the benefit and priority ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/474,355 filed Mar. 21, 2017,the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

Various communication systems may benefit from appropriate restrictionon use. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefitfrom radio-access-technology-specific access restrictions.

Description of the Related Art

Evolved packet system (EPS) is a successor of the general packet radiosystem (GPRS). EPS provides a long term evolution (LTE) radio interfaceand evolved packet core (EPC) network functions for broadband wirelessdata access. Such EPS core network functions include the mobilitymanagement entity (MME), packet data network gateway (P-GW) and servinggateway (S-GW).

FIG. 1 illustrates an evolved packet core architecture, as described by3GPP TS 23.401. A common packet domain core network can be used for bothradio access networks (RAN) the global system for mobile communication(GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radio access network(GERAN) and the universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN). Thiscommon core network provides GPRS services.

Fifth generation (5G) is the new generation of radio systems and networkarchitecture delivering extreme broadband and ultra-robust, low latencyconnectivity and massive machine-to-machine connectivity for theInternet of Things (IoT) to enable the programmable world.

5G systems may be used in at least three use cases. In a first use case,massive broadband can be used to deliver gigabytes of bandwidth inuplink and downlink per second on demand. In a second use case, criticalmachine-type communication can allow for immediate (for example, withextreme low end to end (e2e) latency), synchronous eye-hand feedbackthat permits remote control of robots and cars. In a third use case,massive machine-type communication can connect billions of sensors andmachines.

The biggest difference between fourth generation (4G) and 5G designrequirements is the diversity of use-cases that 5G networks may berequired support as compared to 4G networks that were primarily designedfor the single use-case of delivering high speed mobile broadband in3GPP rel-8.

5G may not only be a new radio access technology (RAT) family, but itsarchitecture may expand to multiple dimensions by providing a commoncore for multiple radio technologies, such as cellular, Wi-Fi, andfixed, as well as for multiple services, such as IoT, mobile broadband,and low latency-high reliability, and further for multiple network andservice operators.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-roaming next generation system architecture, asdescribed by 3GPP TS 23.501 v0.1.1. For introducing 5G, 3GPP hasdiscussed different architecture and interworking options. One optioncalled option 3/3a/3x is a non-standalone (NSA) option that anchors the5G base station (5G Node B or gNB) in dual connectivity mode at the LTEeNB, which is connected to the EPC. RRC connection is always between UEand eNB, user plane however can traverse 5G NB and is either forwardedto eNB (in a split bearer option) or directly to the serving gateway(S-GW) in EPC with secondary cell group (SCG) bearer option using theS1-U interface.

FIG. 3 illustrates options 2 and 3(a/x). FIG. 4 illustrates option 7/7a.Option 7/7a can be for the case in which the L 1E eNB is anchored indual connectivity mode at the 5G NB, which is connected to the new 5Gcore network (5G-CN). Architecture option 2, so called standalone (SA)option assumes that the 5G system is standalone in which 5G NB isconnected to 5G-CN and has no dependency on LTE/EPC. EPC and 5GC caninterwork in order to support inter system mobility/handover. It is alsopossible to connect an enhanced LTE eNB to the new 5GC, option 5.However 3GPP has ruled out the option in which the 5G NB connects toEPC. Architecture options 2, 3/3a/3x and 7/7a are shown in FIGS. 3 and4. See also 3GPP TR 38.801/TR 23.799 for possible deployment options.

SUMMARY

According to a first embodiment, a method can include registering a userequipment with a network element, wherein the registering comprisesidentifying user equipment capabilities. The method can also includereceiving a response from the network element indicating restriction onuse of at least one radio access technology.

In a variation, the network element can be a mobility management entity.

In a variation, the capabilities can be provided via S1 or non-accessstratum signaling.

In a variation, the response can be a tracking area update acceptancemessage or attach acceptance message.

In a variation, the capabilities can be capabilities for using aplurality of radio access technologies.

In a variation, the method can further include disabling at least oneradio access technology for the user equipment based on the response.

According to a second embodiment, a method can include receiving aregistration request for a user equipment at a network element, whereinthe request identifies user equipment capabilities; determining arestriction on use of at least one radio access technology for the userequipment; and at least one of sending a response to the user equipmentindicating the restriction on use of at least one radio accesstechnology, or indicating to an access node that the access node is toimpose at least one restriction on serving at least one radio accesstechnology to the user equipment.

In a variation, the network element can be a mobility management entity.

In a variation, the method can further include obtaining subscriptioninformation regarding the user equipment from a further network element,wherein the restriction on use is determined based on the subscriptioninformation.

In a variation, the restriction on use can be determined further basedon roaming information regarding the user equipment.

In a variation, the further network element can be a home subscriberserver or unified data manager.

In a variation, the capabilities can be provided via S1 or non-accessstratum signaling.

In a variation, the response can be a tracking area update acceptancemessage or attach acceptance message.

In a variation, the access node can be an evolved Node B or a nextgeneration Node B.

In a variation, the capabilities can be capabilities for using aplurality of radio access technologies.

In a variation, the determination can be further based on a timerrelated to use of at least one radio access technology.

In a variation, the determination can be further based on access controlvalidity information related to use of at least one radio accesstechnology.

According to third and fourth embodiments, an apparatus can includemeans for performing the method according to the first and secondembodiments respectively, in any of their variants.

According to fifth and sixth embodiments, an apparatus can include atleast one processor and at least one memory including computer programcode. The at least one memory and the computer program code can beconfigured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus atleast to perform the method according to the first and secondembodiments respectively, in any of their variants.

According to seventh and eighth embodiments, a computer program productmay encode instructions for performing a process including the methodaccording to the first and second embodiments respectively, in any oftheir variants.

According to ninth and tenth embodiments, a non-transitory computerreadable medium may encode instructions that, when executed in hardware,perform a process including the method according to the first and secondembodiments respectively, in any of their variants.

According to eleventh and twelfth embodiments, a system may include atleast one apparatus according to the third or fifth embodiments incommunication with at least one apparatus according to the fourth orsixth embodiments, respectively in any of their variants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For proper understanding of the invention, reference should be made tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an evolved packet core architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-roaming next generation system architecture

FIG. 3 illustrates options 2 and 3(a/x).

FIG. 4 illustrates option 7/7a.

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal flow diagram of a method according tocertain embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above-described different architecture options, especially options3/3a/3x may create the following situation: if a 5G and LTE capable UEis trying to attach to a network where the NSA architecture option isdeployed but has only a valid LTE subscription, it is currently notclear how access to 5G RAN is restricted while access to LTE is allowed.This is the case irrespective of whether the UE is trying to connect toits home public land mobile network (HPLMN) or is roaming in a visitedpublic land mobile network (VPLMN). In general, a similar situation canalso arise with other architecture options, for example with option 7/7awhere the UE could have access to 5G but not to LTE or vice versa.

Certain embodiments provide a general solution for how to restrictaccess of a UE to certain RAT(s) based on roaming agreements andsubscription profile, while other RAT(s) are forbidden either due tolack of subscription or lack of proper roaming agreements. The approachof certain embodiments may be applicable for roaming and non-roamingcases. For option 3x, there is a possibility for gNB to transfer all ofthe data to LTE eNB, which can eventually transmit the data towards theUE, instead of gNB transferring the data to the UE directly. In thiscase, the UE may be allowed to camp in the gNB serving are sinceover-the-air transmission does not use 5G spectrum but only LTE.

Thus, certain embodiments provide a solution to allow or restrict accessfor an LTE/5G capable UE to the network, irrespective of whether the UEis roaming or not and whether the user has only a valid L 1E, 5G orcombined LTE/5G subscription.

For example, a unified data management (UDM)/home subscriber server(HSS) subscription profile associated with a subscriber can containinformation about the RAT(s) that are allowed to be used or not. Forexample, LTE allowed but 5G may be forbidden or LTE/5G may be allowed inHPLMN, but 5G may be forbidden in VPLMN, or any other combination ofthese. Then the corresponding system, EPS or next generation system(NGS) depending on the architecture option, can enforce subscriptionaccess when the UE is registering with the system and/or a certainsession (for example, NSA NR—option 3/option 7) is being established forthe given UE.

Specific examples are discussed below, but it should be understood thatsimilar approaches can be applied to other combinations of RATs.

According to certain embodiments, a subscription restriction can be inplace for Option 3. In this case, the following data can be stored inthe HSS as part of the UE subscription to accommodate with the newarchitecture option 3: EN-NR DC with EPC allowed in HPLMN and list ofother PLMNs (potential EPLMNs/VPLMNs); or EN-NR DC with EPC not allowedin HPLMN and list of other PLMNs (potential EPLMNs/VPLMNs). A parameterthat can be used for such subscription information stored ortransferred, for example, between the HSS and MME can be EPC_DC_NR_LTE.Other parameter names are also permitted.

FIG. 5 illustrates a signal flow diagram of a method according tocertain embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, in this example a UE with 4GE-UTRAN and 5G NR capabilities can register with the MME in EPC andprovide the UE's RAT capabilities at 1.

At the time of registration, the MME can receive UE capabilities eithervia S1 and/or via NAS signaling and can obtain UE subscriptioninformation from the HSS. Depending on the subscription informationreceived from the HSS and possible roaming information stored in theMME, the MME can determine whether the UE is allowed to access 5G NR ornot in the serving PLMN.

The MME can, at 2, directly indicate the RAT allowance or prohibitioninformation to the UE as part of an Attach Accept/TAU accept and canrequest the UE to disable 5G NR in the serving network/PLMN. Inaddition, at 3 the MME can indicate to the LTE eNB that the eNB shouldnot establish DC with NR for the given UE. This can, for example, morespecifically indicate that the UE is not allowed to transmit and receivedata via NR. Either 2 or 3 can ensure that 5G NR access is not allowedfor the UE that does not have access to it.

Furthermore, in case of option 3x, the LTE eNB may provide furtheraccess control information to gNB so that the gNB can perform dataforwarding only back to LTE eNB without transferring data towards the UEdirectly.

Specifically, in the case of option 3x, the LTE eNB can provide thisinformation to the gNB as part of Secondary eNB (SeNB). An additionalprocedure may be to allow the gNB to forward data back to the LTE eNB,for example to prohibit using 5G spectrum for that UE. For option 3x, itis possible to offload the data processing to the gNB, which may performpacket data convergence protocol (PDCP)/radio resource management (RRM)functions.

According to certain embodiments, there can be subscription restrictionfor a 5G system. This alternative may encompass the otherabove-described architecture options, aside from option 3, such asoptions 2, 4, 5, and 7.

In this case, the following information may be stored in the UDM as partof the UE subscription to accommodate the new 5G system architecture:NGS system allowed, NGS system not allowed in HPLMN and list of otherPLMNs (potential EPLMNs/VPLMNs), or NR-EN DC with NGS allowed in HPLMNand list of other PLMNs (potential EPLMNs/VPLMNs).

Based on the subscription information received from UDM and potentiallyroaming information stored at the AMF, the AMF can decide which RATcombination is allowed for the UE in the HPLMN or VPLMN and whether itis allowed to access NGC. When the UE performs initial registration inthe AMF, it can reject the UE with an appropriate cause code, if the UEis not allowed to access NGS. If the UE is allowed to access NGS but notone of the radio accesses (5G NR or LTE), then it can indicatesubscription restriction information as part of registration accept.Such indications can trigger the UE to disable NR and/or stop attemptingto register in NGC in the current PLMN. To prevent UEs accessing viaoption 5, standalone E-UTRA accessing NGC, AMF can provide theappropriate cause code to UE to stop attempting to register in NGC inthe current PLMN. Furthermore, AMF can provide “no access to NGC for thegiven UE” to E-UTRAN for the given UE and in this case, E-UTRAN canreject NGC access for the given UE by rejecting use of NR RRC or E-UTRANRRC (with NGC NAS) request thus it redirects the UE to use E-UTRAN RRC(with EPC NAS) only in the serving network/PLMN.

Note: whether Option 5 UEs will use enhanced E-UTRAN RRC (with NGC NAS)or NR RRC (with NGC NAS) is still to be decided/confirmed in 3 GPP RAN2.

In addition, access control information along with optional validityinformation (for example, to indicate how long the access controlinformation is valid), can be sent from an access management function(AMF) to the LTE eNB or 5G gNB in a new Information Element (IE) as partof “Initial context setup” depending on whether the signaling connectionis between 5GC and 5G gNB (for example, option 2, 4, 7/7a) or between5G-CN and LTE eNB (for example, option 5). The 5G gNB or LTE eNB may usethe access control information to allow or restrict access of the UE toa particular RAT (for example, 5G NR or E-UTRA) respectively.

The same solution can be applied, as an extension of the sameprinciples, to a UE accessing 5GC via non-3GPP access, such as untrustedWLAN access, trusted WLAN access and/or fixed accesses.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method according to certain embodiments. As shownin FIG. 6, a method can include, at 610, registering a user equipmentwith a network element. The registering can include identifying userequipment capabilities. The capabilities can be provided via 51 ornon-access stratum signaling. The capabilities can be capabilities forusing a plurality of radio access technologies.

The method can also include, at 620, receiving a response from thenetwork element indicating restriction on use of at least one radioaccess technology. The network element can be a mobility managemententity. The response can be a tracking area update acceptance message orattach acceptance message.

The method can further include, at 630, disabling at least one radioaccess technology for the user equipment based on the response.

The above features of FIG. 6 may be performed by, for example, a userequipment. However, other features of the method may be performed byother network elements.

For example, the method can also include, at 640, receiving aregistration request for a user equipment at a network element, whereinthe request can identify user equipment capabilities. This can be arequest sent as part of the registering at 610. Thus, the capabilitiescan be provided via S1 or non-access stratum signaling and thecapabilities can be capabilities for using a plurality of radio accesstechnologies, as mentioned above. The network element can be a mobilitymanagement entity.

The method can also include, at 650, determining a restriction on use ofat least one radio access technology for the user equipment. Moreover,the method can further include one or both of, at 660, sending aresponse to the user equipment indicating the restriction on use of atleast one radio access technology, and, at 670, indicating to an accessnode that the access node is to impose at least one restriction onserving at least one radio access technology to the user equipment. Theaccess node can be an evolved Node B or a next generation Node B. Theresponse to the user equipment can be a tracking area update acceptancemessage or attach acceptance message.

The method can also include, at 645, obtaining subscription informationregarding the user equipment from a further network element. The furthernetwork element can be a home subscriber server or unified data manager.

The restriction on use can be determined at 650 based on thesubscription information. Moreover, the restriction on use can bedetermined at 650 further based on roaming information regarding theuser equipment, which may be stored at the network element. Thedetermination at 650 can also be further based on such things as a timerrelated to use of at least one radio access technology and/or accesscontrol validity information related to use of at least one radio accesstechnology.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments of theinvention. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart ofFIG. 6 may be implemented by various means or their combinations, suchas hardware, software, firmware, one or more processors and/orcircuitry. In one embodiment, a system may include several devices, suchas, for example, network element 710 and user equipment (UE) or userdevice 720. The system may include more than one UE 720 and more thanone network element 710, although only one of each is shown for thepurposes of illustration. A network element can be an MME, an accesspoint, a base station, an eNode B (eNB), a gNB, or any other networkelement, such as any of the network elements shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Each of these devices may include at least one processor or control unitor module, respectively indicated as 714 and 724. At least one memorymay be provided in each device, and indicated as 715 and 725,respectively. The memory may include computer program instructions orcomputer code contained therein, for example for carrying out theembodiments described above. One or more transceiver 716 and 726 may beprovided, and each device may also include an antenna, respectivelyillustrated as 717 and 727. Although only one antenna each is shown,many antennas and multiple antenna elements may be provided to each ofthe devices. Other configurations of these devices, for example, may beprovided. For example, network element 710 and UE 720 may beadditionally configured for wired communication, in addition to wirelesscommunication, and in such a case antennas 717 and 727 may illustrateany form of communication hardware, without being limited to merely anantenna.

Transceivers 716 and 726 may each, independently, be a transmitter, areceiver, or both a transmitter and a receiver, or a unit or device thatmay be configured both for transmission and reception. The transmitterand/or receiver (as far as radio parts are concerned) may also beimplemented as a remote radio head which is not located in the deviceitself, but in a mast, for example. It should also be appreciated thataccording to the “liquid” or flexible radio concept, the operations andfunctionalities may be performed in different entities, such as nodes,hosts or servers, in a flexible manner. In other words, division oflabor may vary case by case. One possible use is to make a networkelement to deliver local content. One or more functionalities may alsobe implemented as a virtual application that is provided as softwarethat can run on a server.

A user device or user equipment 720 may be a mobile station (MS) such asa mobile phone or smart phone or multimedia device, a computer, such asa tablet, provided with wireless communication capabilities, personaldata or digital assistant (PDA) provided with wireless communicationcapabilities, vehicle, portable media player, digital camera, pocketvideo camera, navigation unit provided with wireless communicationcapabilities or any combinations thereof. The user device or userequipment 720 may be a sensor or smart meter, or other device that mayusually be configured for a single location.

In an exemplifying embodiment, an apparatus, such as a node or userdevice, may include means for carrying out embodiments described abovein relation to FIG. 6.

Processors 714 and 724 may be embodied by any computational or dataprocessing device, such as a central processing unit (CPU), digitalsignal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), digitally enhanced circuits, or comparable device or acombination thereof. The processors may be implemented as a singlecontroller, or a plurality of controllers or processors. Additionally,the processors may be implemented as a pool of processors in a localconfiguration, in a cloud configuration, or in a combination thereof.The term circuitry may refer to one or more electric or electroniccircuits. The term processor may refer to circuitry, such as logiccircuitry, that responds to and processes instructions that drive acomputer.

For firmware or software, the implementation may include modules orunits of at least one chip set (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on).Memories 715 and 725 may independently be any suitable storage device,such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A hard disk drive(HDD), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, or other suitablememory may be used. The memories may be combined on a single integratedcircuit as the processor, or may be separate therefrom. Furthermore, thecomputer program instructions may be stored in the memory and which maybe processed by the processors can be any suitable form of computerprogram code, for example, a compiled or interpreted computer programwritten in any suitable programming language. The memory or data storageentity is typically internal but may also be external or a combinationthereof, such as in the case when additional memory capacity is obtainedfrom a service provider. The memory may be fixed or removable.

The memory and the computer program instructions may be configured, withthe processor for the particular device, to cause a hardware apparatussuch as network element 710 and/or UE 720, to perform any of theprocesses described above (see, for example, FIG. 6). Therefore, incertain embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may beencoded with computer instructions or one or more computer program (suchas added or updated software routine, applet or macro) that, whenexecuted in hardware, may perform a process such as one of the processesdescribed herein. Computer programs may be coded by a programminglanguage, which may be a high-level programming language, such asobjective-C, C, C++, C#, Java, etc., or a low-level programminglanguage, such as a machine language, or assembler. Alternatively,certain embodiments of the invention may be performed entirely inhardware.

Furthermore, although FIG. 7 illustrates a system including a networkelement 710 and a UE 720, embodiments of the invention may be applicableto other configurations, and configurations involving additionalelements, as illustrated and discussed herein. For example, multipleuser equipment devices and multiple network elements may be present, orother nodes providing similar functionality, such as nodes that combinethe functionality of a user equipment and an access point, such as arelay node.

Certain embodiments may have various benefits and/or advantages. Forexample, certain embodiments may provide a new procedure in EPS foroption 3 and in NGS for options 2, 4, 5, 7, which is a clean andfuture-proof approach. Furthermore, certain embodiments provide at leasttwo ways to enforce RAT (access to NR) restrictions for option 3:prohibiting the eNB from performing DC with NR and disabling NR in theUE.

Similarly, certain embodiments provide at least two methods to enforceRAT (access to NR) and access to NGC restrictions for options 2, 4, 7:providing an appropriate reject cause to stop access to NR/NGC anddisabling NR to stop access to NR/NGC.

In addition, certain embodiments provide a special solution forrestricting accessing NGC via Option 5 when Option 5 is restricted foraccessing NGC: LTE eNB can reject E-UTRAN radio resource control (RRC)or NR RRC request (with NGC NAS) and can redirect the UE to use ofE-UTRAN RRC/EPC NAS.

Furthermore, certain embodiments can introduce new information,including a timer, within the network. If this timer expires, the systemcan allow or disallow connection of the UE to the 5G RAN. Additionally,certain embodiments can introduce new information for access controlvalidity (date, time, and/or duration) can be introduced. If thisvalidity (date, time, and/or duration) information matches, the systemcan allow or disallow connection of the UE to the 5G RAN.

As another example, the mechanism of certain embodiments may promoteefficient network operation. For example, the mechanism of certainembodiments may support efficient operation for option 3x.

One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that theinvention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a differentorder, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which aredifferent than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although theinvention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, itwould be apparent to those of skill in the art that certainmodifications, variations, and alternative constructions would beapparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

3GPP—3rd Generation Partnership Program

5G—5th Generation

5GC/5G-CN—5G Core Network

5G-RAN—5G Radio Access Network

AF—Application Function

AUSF—Access and Mobility Management Function

Authentication Server Function

DC—Dual Connectivity

DN—Data Network

EPC—Evolved Packet Core

EPLMN—Equivalent PLMN

EPS—Evolved Packet System

eMBB—Extreme Mobile Broadband

eNB—enhanced NodeB

gNB/5G NB—5G NodeB

HPLMN—Home PLMN

HSS—Home Subscriber Server

IE—Information Element

IoT—Internet of Things

LTE—Long Term Evolution

M2M—Machine-to-machine

MME—Mobility Management Entity

MTC—Machine Type Communication

mMTC—massive MTC

cMTC—critical MTC

NGS—Next Generation System

NR—New Radio

NSA—Non-standalone

PCF—Policy Control Function

PDN—Packet Data Network

PDU—Packet Data Unit

P-GW—PDN Gateway

PLMN—Public Land Mobile Network

RAT—Radio Access Technology

SA—Standalone

S-GW—Serving Gateway

SMF—Session Management Function

TAU—Tracking Area Update

UDM—Unified Data Management

UE—User Equipment

UPF—User Plane Function

VPLMN—Visited PLMN

WLAN—Wireless Local Area Network

We claim:
 1. A method, comprising: registering a user equipment with anetwork element, wherein the registering comprises identifying userequipment capabilities; receiving a response from the network elementindicating restriction on use of at least one radio access technology;and operating the user equipment in accordance with the indicatedrestriction.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capabilities areprovided via S1 or non-access stratum signaling.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the response comprises a tracking area update acceptancemessage or attach acceptance message.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe capabilities comprise capabilities for using a plurality of radioaccess technologies.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:disabling at least one radio access technology for the user equipmentbased on the response.
 6. A method, comprising: receiving a registrationrequest for a user equipment at a network element, wherein the requestidentifies user equipment capabilities; determining a restriction on useof at least one radio access technology for the user equipment; and atleast one of sending a response to the user equipment indicating therestriction on use of at least one radio access technology, orindicating to an access node that the access node is to impose at leastone restriction on serving at least one radio access technology to theuser equipment.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: obtainingsubscription information regarding the user equipment from a furthernetwork element, wherein the restriction on use is determined based onthe subscription information.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein therestriction on use is determined further based on roaming informationregarding the user equipment.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein thecapabilities are provided via S1 or non-access stratum signaling. 10.The method of claim 6, wherein the response comprises a tracking areaupdate acceptance message or attach acceptance message.
 11. The methodof claim 6, wherein the capabilities comprise capabilities for using aplurality of radio access technologies.
 12. The method of claim 6,wherein the determination is further based on a timer related to use ofat least one radio access technology.
 13. The method of claim 6, whereinthe determination is further based on access control validityinformation related to use of at least one radio access technology. 14.A method, comprising: receiving a context setup message indicating atleast one restriction on serving at least one radio access technology toa user equipment; and imposing the at least one restriction on servingat least one radio access technology to the user equipment, based on thecontext setup message.
 15. An apparatus, comprising: at least oneprocessor; and at least one memory including computer program code,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code isconfigured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus atleast to register a user equipment with a network element, wherein theregistering comprises identifying user equipment capabilities; receive aresponse from the network element indicating restriction on use of atleast one radio access technology; and operate the user equipment inaccordance with the indicated restriction.
 16. The apparatus of claim15, wherein the network element comprises a mobility management entity.17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the capabilities are provided viaS1 or non-access stratum signaling.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the response comprises a tracking area update acceptance messageor attach acceptance message.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thecapabilities comprise capabilities for using a plurality of radio accesstechnologies.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least onememory and the computer program code is configured to, with the at leastone processor, cause the apparatus at least to disable at least oneradio access technology for the user equipment based on the response.21. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least onememory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code is configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, cause the apparatus at least to receive a registrationrequest for a user equipment at a network element, wherein the requestidentifies user equipment capabilities; determine a restriction on useof at least one radio access technology for the user equipment; and atleast one of send a response to the user equipment indicating therestriction on use of at least one radio access technology, or indicateto an access node that the access node is to impose at least onerestriction on serving at least one radio access technology to the userequipment.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the network elementcomprises a mobility management entity.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code isconfigured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus atleast to obtain subscription information regarding the user equipmentfrom a further network element, wherein the restriction on use isdetermined based on the subscription information.
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein the restriction on use is determined further based onroaming information regarding the user equipment.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein the further network element comprises a homesubscriber server or unified data manager.
 26. The apparatus of claim21, wherein the capabilities are provided via S1 or non-access stratumsignaling.
 27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the response comprisesa tracking area update acceptance message or attach acceptance message.28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the access node comprises anevolved Node B or a next generation Node B.
 29. The apparatus of claim21, wherein the capabilities comprise capabilities for using a pluralityof radio access technologies.
 30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thedetermination is further based on a timer related to use of at least oneradio access technology.
 31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thedetermination is further based on access control validity informationrelated to use of at least one radio access technology.
 32. Anapparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memoryincluding computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and thecomputer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus at least to receive a context setup messageindicating at least one restriction on serving at least one radio accesstechnology to a user equipment; and impose the at least one restrictionon serving at least one radio access technology to the user equipment,based on the context setup message.